Feeding device



G. S. HENSON.

' FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, I917.

THE COLUMBIA PuNDnRAPH 60., WASHING-TON, b. C

UNITED STATES PATENT orr cn.

enonen s. HENSON, or RUSHVILLE, MISSOURI.

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$pecification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed January 13, 1917. Serial No. 142,264.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnoncn S..HENSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rushville, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in feeding devices and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a supply hopper. or tank having animal operated means for controlling the discharge from the hopper or tank.

The invention also has for an object to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a supply hopper or tank provided with a discharge opening together with a controlling valve for said opening which is adapted to be adjusted into open position by the animal desiring to feed.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved feeding device whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein is disclosed a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, H denotes a supply hopper or tank of any ordinary or preferred type and.

cline in order to prevent any possible obstruction to the flow .of feed through the opening A. It is also to be understood that the member 1 isof a relativelyshort length in comparison with the height .or' .depth of the hopper or tank. H and is adapted to be entirely covered by feed for which reason the particular. construction of the memberl and its supporting means is of particular advantage.

At, denotes a tubular cylindrical .member telescopically engaged within the member. 1 and also having its upper or top end 5 closed. The diameter of the bore of the. member 4 is-preferably the same throughout its length and said diameter is also substantiallyzequal to the diameterof the opening I A sothat when the member 4 is in its lowermost position, as indicated by full lines in the accompanying drawings, How of feed from the hopper or tank H through the opening A is effectively prevented.

6 denotes an operating rod disposed longitudinally of the member 4 and suitably connected, as at 7, to the axial. center of the closed end 5 thereof. Said rod 6 is of such a length as to extend beyond the bottom of the hopper or tank H and in order to hold said rod 6 against undue lateral movement, I find itof advantage to have the same loosely directed through the eye 8 afiorded by the guide rod 9 intersecting the opening A and suitably secured to the adjacent marginal portions of said opening, as indicated at 10, at diametrically opposed points.

The lower or free end of the rod 6 is provided with the cross member or head 11 which is'adapted to be engaged by the snout of the animal desiring to be fed, whereby it will be perceived that the member 4 will be elevated, as indicated by dotted lines in the accompanying drawings, so that the feed within the hopper or tank H may be readily discharged through the opening A. When the snout or head of the animal is removed from beneath the cross member 11 it will be at once self-evident that the member I will return to its closing position by gravity.

In practice my improved device is especially designed and adapted for use in connection with hogs and kindred stock.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a feeding device constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without mate-rial departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

In combination with a hopper provided with a discharge opening in its bottom, a tubular member positioned above said opening and having its lower end open and its upper end closed, said member being in vertical alinement with the discharge opening, a hollow cylindrical member telescopically engaged within the tubular member and having its lower end open, said cylindrical member being of a diameter to close the discharge opening of the hopper when the cylindrical member is in its lowermost position, a rod connected with the inner end of the cylindrical member and extending exteriorly of the hopper through the discharge opening thereof, across member carried by the outer end portion of the rod, a guide member intersecting the discharge opening of the hopper and through which the rod is loosely directed, and supporting legs for the tubular member secured to the lower portion of said member and to the bottom of the hopper, said legs being arranged on downward and outward inclines and maintaining the lower open end of the tubular member in predetermined spaced relation relative to the bottom of the hopper. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE S. HEN SON.

Witnesses:

E. H. KAAZ, WM. T. JooHnMs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D.G. 

